Season 8 of Night Court began with the first of a two episode story "A Family Affair", which aired on NBC-TV on September 28, 1990; the season concluded with the conclusion of another two episode story arc, "Where There's a Will, There's a Tony", which aired on May 8, 1991 as a total of 24 episodes were aired in the season.

Originally conceived as the final season, Night Court’s eighth hit year saw the show’s creators moving some very long simmering subplots off the back burner and on the boil. As the season begins, Judge Stone (Harry Anderson), DA Dan (John Larroquette), Bull (Richard Moll), Mac (Charles Robinson) and Roz (Marsha Warfield) are welcoming Christine (MARKIE POST) back from maternity leave. The happy reunion is short-lived, however, as long-buried passions, secret guilts and long-lost relatives plunge the court into chaos. This being Night Court, we are also treated to visits from a trick-or-treating Death (Stephen Root) and time travels with an angel (Mel Tormé), and we brave a session at the horrific Day Court.

Christine comes back from having her baby and has to deal with the shadow of her replacement, good 'ole Ted. Harry tries to avoid the tutor arranged to help him pass a crucial high school history test. Meanwhile Dan's sister comes to visit, and Dan asks Bull to take her out to see the sights of New York, unaware that his baby sister is a chip off the old Fielding block.

Dan is thrilled when he offers himself as a prize at a bachelor auction, until he sees the lecherous old woman who bids highest for him; and Christine is beginning to have doubts about her marriage to Tony.

Roz surprises everyone by becoming unbearably perky when the staff is temporarily assigned to daytime hours, and Christine decides she must totally change her personality to hang onto Tony and her marriage.

Harry lets an article naming him one of New York's 10 most interesting men go to his head, and he disappoints Christine by fibbing to get out of a date. Dan tries to live up to his responsibilities as head of the Phil Foundation.

Harry experiences some very mixed emotions when Tony tries to win Christine back, and the transformed Dan gets some help in running the Phil Foundation, from Phil's twin brother Will. Part one of two-part episode story.